Is living in the way of faith, in the Way of Jesus, a physical state, a spiritual state, and emotional state or a combination of the three?

This note has been on my mind for some time. The perspective of a particular TV show (read on to see which one!) made me think about how I relate to the bad things, what we often call evil, I see going on around--and sometimes within. These are just a few beginning thoughts. See what you think.

Would you descibe your church as authentic? Is your church stuck in the ego building process or committed to transformation? One of the riches of the United Church of Christ has always been its humilty and understanding that God cannot be controlled. The commitment to transformation has always been at our center, and the invitation is always there to be loved, not for who you "pretend" to be, but to be who you "really" are.

Want to read a cool story about the man soon to be the UCC's President? Well check this out...

This is not a history of a basketball fan club.The Celts are first fleetingly mentioned by the Greek historian Hecataeus of Miletus at the end of the 6th century BC. They were likely the first pan-European civilization. Their origins are unknown, but they likely migrated from areas in Anatolia and other areas around the Black Sea. Ian Bradley notes that “They may possibly have first emerged as a distinct linguistic group in the area around the Black Sea about 1000 B.C.”

Some language researchers have noted the similarities between early indo-European languages and Sanskrit and have suggested that the language community nay first have appeared in NW India.

These early Celts left a legacy of fine art in their metalwork. In addition, their language, they have shown a history as fierce fighters, but with little strategic planning.

I'll take you on a brief tour of resources and experiences available on the Internet that may help deepen your spiritual life. This week, a new look at an old tradition of spiritual growth, and a music video from Taizé.

As we leave 2008, may this prayer prepare our spirit for 2009 and all that it will hold.

In this week of Thanksgiving in the US, let's take a few moments to reflect on the true meaning of thanksgiving and gratefulness in our own lives. We in the UCC are the carriers of the Pilgrim and Puritan traditions, so let's lay the turkey aside for a moment and think about how we can be truly grateful this week. Also find here an introduction to a spirituality resource particularly appropriate for this week.

What are the essentials of your Faith??